California Cardroom Rules Get Industry Pushback

A regulatory dispute is unfolding in California after newly finalized rules targeting certain cardroom games drew strong opposition from industry representatives and local stakeholders.

Good to Know

• California Gaming Association says new regulations could cut cardroom revenue by more than 50 percent.
• Bureau analysis reportedly projects loss of about half of cardroom jobs statewide.
• Industry plans legal action to challenge the rule changes.

California Gaming Association criticized regulations issued by Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Bureau of Gambling Control, arguing that long permitted blackjack style and player dealer games could no longer operate under the revised framework.

Industry representatives warned that economic impact could extend beyond gaming floors, affecting municipal budgets that rely on cardroom tax revenue to fund local services.

Economic Concerns Center on Jobs and City Funding

Association pointed to internal economic projections from the Bureau that estimate roughly 50 percent of cardroom jobs may disappear if the rules take full effect. Tens of thousands of workers and multiple local economies could feel the impact, according to the group.

Cities that depend on gaming taxes for police, fire protection, parks, and social programs could face immediate fiscal pressure if revenue declines sharply.

Kyle Kirkland, president of California Gaming Association, said:

“Attorney General Bonta and the Bureau have unilaterally implemented extreme regulatory changes that will harm thousands of working families and the dozens of California communities that depend on cardroom taxes.”

He added:

“By the Bureau’s own simplistic economic assessment, these unnecessary regulations will eliminate over half of all cardroom jobs and force many communities to cut police, fire, parks, senior, and food programs when the long-standing tax base disappears.”

Long Running Game Formats Now at Center of Legal Dispute

Contested games have operated inside California cardrooms for decades and received prior approval from earlier administrations, according to the association. Group argued regulators advanced the rules without demonstrating a legal requirement or public safety issue tied to those offerings.

Kirkland said the industry raised “serious legal and economic concerns” during the process but received no substantive response.

He said the attorney general “refused to identify a single threat to public safety” and “advanced the regulations without good faith discussion or lawful disclosure.”

Legal Challenge Likely as Stakeholders Push Back

Industry leadership signaled plans to pursue legal remedies aimed at preserving existing operations and preventing what they view as an abrupt policy shift.

Kirkland said:

“Given the Bureau’s failure to follow the laws they are bound to follow, our industry intends to pursue legal remedies to preserve our lawful, legitimate businesses and defend the livelihood of the working families and the communities who depend on us but have been dismissed as politically irrelevant by Attorney General Bonta.”

Association also reported that several cities, elected officials, and employees voiced warnings about economic and legal consequences tied to the regulatory changes.

Debate now places California cardroom policy at the intersection of regulatory authority, municipal finance, and long standing interpretations of permitted gaming formats.

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